CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  Dr. Jai Dahiya, professor of physics and associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Southeast Missouri State University, has been awarded the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Gov. Bob Holden recently honored 66 outstanding faculty from postsecondary schools, colleges and universities in Missouri during the 2001 Governor's Conference on Higher Education at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown.

Recipients of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching were selected by their respective institutions for their effective teaching and advising, service to the school community, commitment to high standards of excellence and success in nurturing student achievement. Holden presented the awards following his keynote address during a luncheon session.

"It is a big honor," Dahiya said. "It really means a lot to me. It basically tells me I must be doing something right."

Dahiya received the Faculty Merit Award from Southeast Missouri State last fall. That award is presented for excellence and distinction in teaching, as well. Dahiya also will be presented April 12 with a distinguished alumnus award from the College of Natural Sciences at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. The Alumni Association of the University of North Texas will present that honor during a luncheon.

Dahiya became a Southeast faculty member in 1984. He is a professor in the Department of Physics, a Faculty Senate member and associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Southeast. During his 17 years at Southeast, Dahiya has established a research lab to involve undergraduate Southeast students in his research and dozens of students have been involved in his microwave spectroscopy research. He has presented research papers at local and regional conferences and received numerous awards.

Dahiya also works with the international programs office at Southeast to help recruit international students. During his tenure at Southeast, Dahiya has published more than 60 research papers in peer-reviewed and refereed journals, presented research at 26 national and eight international conferences and served as member of the advisory committee for the International Symposium of Microwave and Optical Technology.

Dahiya holds a bachelor of science in physics, chemistry and mathematics from Punjab University in India, a master of science in physics with specialization in electronics from Meerut University in India and a doctoral degree in physics with specialization in microwave spectroscopy from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  Gov. Bob Holden, center, presents the Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching to Dr. Jai Dahiya, left, professor of physics and associate dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at Southeast Missouri State University. At right is Dr. Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University.

SOUTHEAST ALUMNUS EARNS PERFECT SCORE ON MAJOR FIELD ACHIEVEMENT TEST IN BUSINESS

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  Matthew Pierce, a December 2001 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, has earned a perfect score on the Major Field Achievement Test in Business.

"I don't ever recall seeing a perfect score," said Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast. "This score puts him in the top one-tenth of one percent of about 65,000 students nationally who took the exam during the past two academic years. It is an exceptional accomplishment."

Pierce, of Patton, Mo., graduated at the top of the December 2001 class with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He received a bachelor of science in business administration degree, majoring in accounting.

"I was frankly surprised," Pierce said of his score on the exam. "I didn't study for it at all. It is just too broad and covers too many areas to begin studying for it."

The exam is scored by Educational Testing Services (ETS) of Princeton, N.J. Undergraduate business students at Southeast Missouri State University take the exam during the capstone business course, BA490 "Business Policies and Strategies." McDougall says the nationally-normed exam tests students' broad understanding of basic principles and business concepts. The exam covers the areas of accounting, economics, management, quantitative methods, finance, marketing, the legal environment and the international environment.

He says thousands of undergraduate business students across the country take the exam each year. Pierce scored a perfect 200 on the exam.

"The top one percent of 85,000 seniors who have taken the test in the last four years includes scores from 185 to 200," said Bruce Paternoster, program administrator of Major Field Tests with ETS. "Therefore, he is at the very top of the 99th percentile. Out of 400-plus schools of business, scores of 185 to 200 are so infrequent that he (Pierce) is in very select company."

Paternoster says more than 400 schools of business administer the Major Field Achievement Test in Business. These schools range from very large land-grant universities to small liberal arts colleges. He says institutions administer the outcomes assessment exam in order to evaluate the quality of their curriculum and to compare it to other schools across the country.

Pierce speaks highly of his years spent at Southeast.

"It was a good experience for me," he said. "I really enjoyed my experience there. The professors are really interested in seeing students learn. They are really committed to their students and make themselves available to help you. I just really appreciated having all of the resources I had there."

Since his graduation, Pierce is working in his father's accounting firm, Kenneth W. Pierce, C.P.A., in Fredericktown, Mo. He is continuing to take classes at Southeast in preparation for sitting for the Certified Public Accounting (C.P.A.) exam in November. He hopes to pass the C.P.A. Exam and to continue working with his father after that.

Pierce, who is the son of Kenneth and Judy Pierce of Patton, was home-schooled from pre-school through 12th grade.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  Four students from Southeast Missouri State University have received recognition in the National undergraduate category of the Donald W. Fogarty International Paper Competition for excellent research.

Laurie Brader, Jon Clements, Jamie Favier and Matthew Pierce won third place in the national competition for their paper "Efficient Consumer Response: Management Issues in the New Millennium." Their paper took first place in the Region 5 undergraduate category of the Donald W. Fogarty International Paper Competition and was then entered at the national level.

Brader is an accounting major from Fenton, Mo.; Clements is a finance major from Perryville, Mo.; Favier is a management information systems major from Perryville, Mo.; and Pierce is an accounting major from Patton, Mo.

On Dec. 11, the students presented their paper during the Educational Society for Research Management's (APICS) Professional Development Meeting in St. Louis, Mo.

Students entered the competition at the Region 5 level in order to fulfill the requirements of "Production/Operations Management," a course study of operational areas with an emphasis on application of management techniques. The course is taught by Dr. Ike Ehie, chair of the Department of Management.

"The students research studies were cutting edge of technology and relevant to current business practice," said Ehie. "The recognition they received attests to the high quality of students that we have at Southeast."

BLACK INDIAN ARTIST WILL DISPLAY WORK AT SOUTHEAST DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  In celebration of Black History Month, artist Valena Broussard Dismukes will bring her work to Southeast Missouri State University and present two programs about the connections between African Americans and Native Americans.

Dismukes is a Choctaw-African American woman who is originally from St. Louis and resides in Los Angeles. Her photo essay, "Native Americans: The Red Black Connection," is a collection of sepia-toned portraits of urban American Indians of African heritage, along with their tribal affiliation. She is listed in "Who's Who of American Women," for her achievements in art. She has lectured and exhibited her work at a number of places including: Dartmouth College, Native American Institute in Santa Ana, Calif., Southwest Museum in Los Angeles and Moorpark College Multicultural Day. She received formal training in photography from several institutes in Los Angeles, but her most important training was from Marion Palfi, a social researcher and Guggenheim recipient, she said.

"I have always been interested in people and cultures. Specifically, my interest in Native American culture stemmed from contacts with Indians in my youth. As an adult, I was involved in demonstrations at Big Mountain, Ariz., and Point Conception, Calif. While relatives always mentioned an ancestor who was one of the signers of the Dancing Rabbit Treaty, it was not until I observed the increasing number of so-called African-Americans participating in powwows that I began to investigate this phenomenon and my own heritage," said Dismukes.

Her photography will go on display in the University Center Program Lounge on Monday, Feb. 4. The display will be open from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and hours for viewing the display will vary afterwards.

OFFICIAL WITH GAY LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION TO SPEAK AT SOUTHEAST

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  An official with the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will present a program Feb. 13 titled "Public Perception and Media Bias: The Role of the News Industry in Perpetuating Stereotypes."

Bill Belzer, West Central District coordinator of the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, will speak during the Common Hour presentation at noon in the University Center Ballroom. Belzer will discuss his role with the organization, which is to monitor the news media in the Midwest to ensure that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are portrayed positively in the media.

Belzer also will be featured during an evening open forum at 7 p.m. in Crisp Hall's Dempster Auditorium. The event is open to students, faculty, staff and community members. Belzer will take questions about his role with the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and about any other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. Student members of the Rainbow Alliance also will participate in the panel discussion and present the student standpoint on issues.

The events are being sponsored by the Rainbow Alliance at Southeast Missouri State University.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  The 24th Annual High School Art Symposium for grades 10-12 will open with a reception at 1 p.m. Feb. 3 in the University Museum on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University with music by Darren Steelman's Jazz Band from New Madrid Central High School.

The theme of the symposium is "Exhibiting Excellence".

The best, recent artwork created by promising young artists from area high schools have been selected for the museum gallery exhibit during February. Art teachers from most Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois high schools assembled their students' artwork and delivered it to the University to compete for inclusion in the exhibit and awards.

The juror, Sherri Talbert, Southeast graduate and retired art teacher from Northwest High School in House Springs, Mo., selected 112 pieces of artwork for the exhibit. Awards will be presented for excellence in sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, fibers, drawing and painting. The awards presentation is scheduled for 2 p.m. during the opening reception.

The public is invited to the reception to meet and applaud these aspiring young artists. The exhibit will remain on display through Feb. 24.

The University Museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, from noon to 4 p.m. on weekends and by appointment in the evenings. For more information, call the exhibit coordinator, Dr. Edwin Smith, Southeast professor of art, at (573) 651-2720.

"The Common Hour Committee chose humor because, well, it would be fun," said Dr. Irene Ferguson, dean of students. "And with all of the other things going on in the world, we need to remember to laugh at the funny stuff. Humor that brings about laughter is good for your spirit and health."

Common Hour was developed in 1996 at Southeast and is held each Wednesday during the noon hour. Common Hour, an hour when no classes are scheduled, provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to develop a sense of community by participating in a variety of intellectually stimulating, socially relevant activities related to a common theme throughout the semester.

Each month during the spring semester, a variety of Common Hour programs are scheduled to focus on humor. Spring Common Hour programs also will be offered on computer programs and a special presentation is planned on black Indians. This program is a key element of Southeast Black History Month events.

Spring semester Common Hour programs will kick off Feb. 6 with Dr. Joel Rhodes of the Department of History, presenting a program titled "Humor in Protests During the 1960s." The presentation will be held in A.S.J. Carnahan Hall Room 102. "Humor in Hip-Hop," a program highlighting the history of hip-hop, also will be held Feb. 6 in the University Center Ballroom.

On Feb. 20, Valena Broussard Dismukes will present a special Common Hour program on "Black Indians: An American Story." The presentation is being made in conjunction with Black History Month. This program will be held during the noon hour in the University Center Program Lounge. Dismukes is a Chocktaw-African American woman from St. Louis who will discuss the connection between these two cultures.

"From the Mouths of Babes: Humor in the Elementary Classroom," will be presented by Susan Reinagal of the Bootheel Education Center, on March 6 in the Magill Hall of Science in Room 131. Also on Feb. 6, Dr. Troy Bickham of the Department of History, will present a program titled "Laughter & Revolution: Humor in Early America." The presentation will be given in the A.S.J. Carnahan Hall Room 102.

Guest speaker, Lino Stanchich, will present the March 27 Common Hour Program, "Laughter, the Best Medicine," in Glenn Auditorium. Stanchich is a macrobiotic educator, researcher and counselor with over 30 years experience. He is a respected teacher of the macrobiotic diet, philosophy and lifestyle, along with shiatsu massage, energy exercises Chi Kung, Do-In self-massage and special eating techniques. Stanchich serves on the faculty of the Kushi Institute and is a member of the Kushi Institute Macrobiotic Educators Association.

On April 3, guest speaker, Dr. Lisa Kahn will be present "From Grimm Humor to German Comic." The program will be presented in Crisp Hall Room 125. Kahn is a noted German writer and poet. Her focus will be the famous Grimm brothers of fairy tale fame.

Nora Morse, a Tewa Pueblo Indian, will present "Pueblo Humor  A Healing Component of Traditional Pueblo Life," on April 10 in the University Center Indian Room. This presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Morse is a sculptor, writer and video producer of films who looks at the continuing social changes within the Pueblo culture. Her video, "What was Taken ," was screened in the 1997 Native American Film and Video Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian. She serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the magazine, Aboriginal Voices. Morse incorporates the various media she works in to make social comment on the lives of contemporary Native women.

On April 17, Dr. Tim Ray, Department of Mathematics, will present a Common Hour Program on " And Two and Two is Twenty-Two," in B.F. Johnson Hall Room 200. The presentation will look at the humorous side of mathematics from the perspective of mathematicians and non-mathematicians. Also on April 17, Dr. Dale Haskell and Dr. Harvey Hecht of the Department of English, will present "Humor in Silent Film" in Crisp Hall Room 125.

Three Common Hours have been set-aside for computer workshops. On Feb. 13 and March 13, "Microsoft Power Point" and "Front Page", respectively, will be presented in Robert A. Dempster Hall Room 103. On Feb. 27, the "Internet" will be presented in Kent Library Room 112.

For more information on Common Hour programs, contact Dr. Irene Ferguson, dean of students, at (573) 651-2264.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  Faculty members in the Department of Music at Southeast Missouri State University will present a recital of "Three Centuries of Music for Flute and Guitar" Feb. 5 in Old St. Vincent's Church.

The recital is scheduled for 8 p.m.

Paul Thompson and Jeff Noonan will present the recital which will feature works from a number of composers, including Purcell, Telemann, Philip Glass, Astor Piazzolla and Manuel de Falla.

The concert will feature both performers on a variety of instruments from the various eras of music, including Lute, Baroque Guitar and Baroque Flute, as well as their modern counterparts.

Admission is $6 for the public and $4 for students. For more information, call the Department of Music at (573) 651-2141.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Feb. 1, 2002  The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Southeast Missouri State University will begin its spring film series on Monday, Feb. 4.

This season, "British Hitch," highlights Alfred Hitchcock's pre-American thrillers produced in the 1930s and productions following his return to England in the early 1970s. Films selected represent the Hitchcock prototypes for action-adventure, the wrong man and comedy-mystery. Those whose familiarity with the director is limited to his work with "Psycho" and "The Birds," will discover his skill with a variety of genres. If you primarily know his American output, you will see why Hollywood was so eager to get to him.

The series will begin on Feb. 4, with "The Man Who Knew Too Much." It was Hitchcock's first international success and the model for his action-adventure films. While on family vacation, a husband and wife witness the assassination of a secret agent, who tells them of a murder plot. This information, along with the spy's ring knowledge of their awareness forces involvement in a web of intrigue and one of the screen's first great shoot-outs. Hitchcock liked it so much he remade it in 1956, but critics agree the original version is the one to see.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26, "The 39 Steps," will be shown. This film is a classic "innocent man" thriller, which was revisited by both Hitchcock and future generations of filmmakers. Richard Hannay is mistakenly assumed a murderer, and chased throughout England and Scotland by both police and the bad guys. It has been reviewed as one of Hitchcock's best.

"The Lady Vanishes," will be shown on Wednesday, April 3. Hitchcock's last thriller before emigrating to the U.S. seamlessly blends mystery, comedy and thrills. Traveling home to be married, Iris receives a mild concussion prior to boarding her train. On board, she befriends the kindly Miss Froy, who subsequently vanishes and reappears as someone else. Is Iris hallucinating, or is there a bigger mystery afoot?

The fourth film in the series will be "Frenzy," which will be shown on Friday, April 26. By the late 1960s, many thought Hitchcock had lost his touch, but they were mistaken. Back in England, back to the wrong man theme and back to grisly murders, there is a serial killer on the loose. It is clear that Blaney is innocent, but there is no sympathy for him because he's not likeable. It makes the audience uncomfortable, and Hitchcock knew it.

The film series is free and open to the public. All films begin at 5:30 p.m., in Room 108 of the Parker Building. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Dr. Peter Hirschburg, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, at (573) 651-2680.